The Naked Gun & Police Squad: A Hilarious Legacy That Still Hits
📷 Image source: slashfilm.com
The Absurd Genius of Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker
How Three Madmen Redefined Comedy
In the early '80s, David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker—collectively known as ZAZ—were already comedy legends thanks to 'Airplane!', a film that turned every disaster movie trope into a punchline. But their short-lived TV series 'Police Squad!' and its big-screen offspring 'The Naked Gun' took their brand of rapid-fire absurdity to new heights.
Starring Leslie Nielsen as the deadpan Lt. Frank Drebin, 'Police Squad!' was canceled after just six episodes. ABC executives famously claimed viewers 'had to watch it' to get the jokes—as if that was a bad thing. But the show’s cult following refused to let it die, leading to a trilogy of films that cemented Drebin as one of comedy’s greatest idiots.
Police Squad! (1982): The One That Started It All
Cancelled Too Soon, But Perfect in Its Imperfection
If you’ve never seen 'Police Squad!', track it down immediately. Each episode is a masterclass in visual gags, wordplay, and sheer audacity. The opening credits alone—featuring a 'special guest star' who dies immediately—set the tone. Nielsen’s Drebin is a clueless detective who somehow solves crimes through a combination of luck and obliviousness.
The show’s cancellation was a travesty, but it’s easy to see why it flopped on network TV. This wasn’t just comedy—it was an assault on the viewer’s attention span, demanding you catch every background joke, every throwaway line. In hindsight, it was ahead of its time, paving the way for later cult hits like 'Arrested Development' and '30 Rock.'
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
The Pinnacle of Drebin’s Stupidity
The first 'Naked Gun' film is pure comedic lightning. Directed by David Zucker, it takes everything that worked in 'Police Squad!' and dials it up to 11. The plot—a convoluted assassination attempt on Queen Elizabeth II—is just an excuse for relentless gags, from Drebin accidentally destroying a priceless museum exhibit to the infamous 'I love you' scene with Priscilla Presley.
Nielsen’s performance is key. He plays Drebin with such sincerity that the absurdity lands even harder. The film’s climax, set at a baseball game, is one of the funniest sequences in comedy history. It’s no surprise the movie grossed over $78 million—proof that audiences were ready for ZAZ’s brand of madness after all.
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991)
A Solid Follow-Up That Doesn’t Quite Stick the Landing
Sequels are tricky, especially when the original is near-perfect. 'The Smell of Fear' brings back Drebin for another round of chaos, this time targeting environmental policy (yes, really). The jokes are still there—Drebin’s disastrous dinner date is a standout—but the energy feels slightly recycled.
That said, it’s still funnier than most comedies today. Robert Goulet as the smarmy villain is a great addition, and the film’s takedown of corporate greed feels oddly relevant now. But compared to the first movie, it’s more of a victory lap than a leap forward.
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994)
A Fitting, If Uneven, Sendoff
By the time '33⅓' rolled around, the formula was wearing thin. Drebin’s antics—now involving a terrorist plot at the Oscars—are still hilarious, but the pacing feels off. The pregnancy subplot with Priscilla Presley’s character feels tacked on, and some gags miss the mark.
Yet, the highs are spectacular. The Oscar ceremony climax, complete with a drugged-up Drebin ruining the show, is worth the price of admission alone. It’s a messy but affectionate farewell to a character who deserved a better finale. Nielsen, as always, commits 100%, proving why he’s the king of deadpan comedy.
Why the Naked Gun Franchise Still Matters
Comedy Doesn’t Get This Bold Anymore
Today’s comedies often rely on improv or meta-humor, but ZAZ’s work was meticulously crafted chaos. Every frame of 'The Naked Gun' is packed with jokes—some obvious, some hidden. It rewards repeat viewing in a way few modern films do.
With a reboot in the works (starring Liam Neeson, of all people), it’s worth revisiting the original. Not just for nostalgia, but as a reminder of what comedy can be when it’s fearless, fast, and unapologetically stupid. In an era of safe, algorithm-friendly humor, we could use more Frank Drebins.
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